Demolition crews bring down KU’s McCollum Hall

KU’s McCollum Hall came crashing down Wednesday after 50 years atop Daisy Hill.

About 750 pounds of explosives spaced throughout the building detonated around 9 a.m., reducing the 10-story, three-wing, 220,000-square-foot residence hall to a pile of rubble.

The 600-foot “evacuation perimeter” around the site will be enforced until 9:30 a.m. Barricades along Iowa and 19th streets are expected to be removed by 10 a.m.

Check back to LJWorld.com for more photos, videos and more coverage from campus.

While reports come in, catch up on Journal-World reporter Sara Shepherd’s story about pre-demolition prep. Other articles of note: What happened to the dorm’s furniture + where the namesakes’ portraits ended up + why fire crews kept coming back to 1800 Engel Road.

Also, take a look at KU’s plans for the newly open space on Daisy Hill.